'Long Island Medium' speaks to "Wista" spirits

WORCESTER — When he wrote his homily for 10 a.m. Mass at St. John's Church, Deacon Paul J. Dacri never thought he'd hear his words repeated from the stage of The Hanover Theatre.

But Sunday night from the balcony, he listened as Theresa Caputo of the TLC television show "Long Island Medium" repeated what he'd said: "Faith and hope equal love."

Turns out the tiny blonde firecracker in the glittering stilettos was at Mass Sunday morning and was moved by the homily. She said she'd mentioned that to her husband, Larry Caputo, when church let out.

Mr. Dacri never saw her during Mass, but he certainly saw her Sunday night when, despite the shoes, she climbed the stairs to the balcony to deliver a message from his wife, Patricia, who died 12 years ago from a brain tumor.

"She said thank you for the beautiful life and nothing's left unsaid," Mrs. Caputo told Mr. Dacri, adding that his wife appreciated that he had given her permission to pass and that she is in heaven.

"She said thank you for allowing me to leave with dignity and grace," she said.

While some television shows don't translate well to theater, "Theresa Caputo, The Experience" held the audience captive and had them laughing and weeping.

When she spoke with a young mother whose 5-month-old son had died of sudden infant death syndrome, there was nary a dry eye among the capacity crowd. Mrs. Caputo said that the child's soul had passed through his mother, awakening her just before she went to check on him the night he died.

When she asked about whether the baby's mother had his footprints, the mom, her hands shaking, turned and revealed a tattoo of her son's feet, along with his name and a verse on her shoulder hidden beneath her dress.

Some might find the messages hard to believe, and Mrs. Caputo said she is often asked how she handles skeptics.

"I don't handle anyone," she said. "This isn't about me."

Those who have seen her television show, the new season of which premiered after her Worcester appearance Sunday night, know that she seems unable to turn off the voices of "spirit" that speak to her, not in English but with a sense of "knowing."

When she was younger, she said, she told her parents she felt "different." Her mother's response was, "You're not adopted." Later, she went to therapy and eventually found a spiritual healer who helped her recognize her gift. Now, she has honed her ability to understand the messages she receives, though on Sunday, she was surprised by some of the things she found unusual.

When she asked who in the audience had a child that had been run over in their own driveway, several people raised their hands. Another woman whose adult best friend had been killed as Mrs. Caputo described was given a message by Mrs. Caputo for his mother, who's struggling after hitting her son with her car, "Tell my mom that she can't be with me right now."

Another similar message came to be passed on to the father of a boy struck while riding his bike. The boy's grandmother promised to share it.

Sometimes, Mrs. Caputo recognizes another person who may also be gifted in hearing from "spirit." She said at a recent appearance, she spoke to a 10-year-old girl who often saw her dead sister.

Her parents have brought her to a variety of specialists who suggested medication, but during the show, she got a message from Mrs. Caputo.

"Your sister wants you to know you're not crazy," she said she told the child and she offered some tools "to help her with her gift" then directed the family to some folks who could also assist. The girl is doing well and not taking medications.

A woman whose son died at 16 was told that his spirit conjured for Mrs. Caputo an image of "Field of Dreams," and stunned the psychic when she said a ball field had been named for him.

"That's it! I just can't make this (expletive) up," she said.

While some of the messages brought up reminders of sad events, most of the times spirits do "not want us to get caught up in our grief." She said most people receive small messages from loved ones that might be passed off as coincidence, but are really signs of love from those who've left.

"Your loved ones give you what you need to make tomorrow a little easier," she said.